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What’s the Square’s Stage For?
After reading Mike Gibson’s [July 22] article on Market Square, I wanted to point out what I see as the big problem there.
Yes, the massive expanse of concrete with a handful of ill-placed benches no one will ever sit on is bad, but the actual structure there is far worse. I looked at the big thing at the end of the square and could not see any sign that it was designed with a use in mind. Like the “stage” in the Old City, it has a roof that is so tall and small that it would not protect anything on the stage from any sort of weather or sun. There is no structure in this tall space for attaching lighting or anything else. There are a few electrical outlets, but not in the floor where they are more useful.
I assumed the structure was meant as a performance platform, but the only thing that it has going for it is that it is slightly elevated and at the end of the space! No implanted audio connections in the floor leading to a space out front for a sound mixer. No nothing to indicate its use. It is more like a very large bland sculpture than stage. If it were properly designed you could very easily have shows out there at the drop of a hat, any night of the week. As it is, you must build an entire stage structure on that platform to have a show.
It makes me wonder if the architects had any use or people in mind when they designed the entire thing. I can only hope that the light poles along the square can be opened to reveal electrical outlets so that vendors can be easily accommodated, but my bet is there is no such intelligent provision.
Tim Glazner
Knoxville
Clock is Downtown
It was nice to read in the [July 29] “Ear to the Ground” that Kimball’s Jewelry moved their clock to their new location. It has always been a landmark for downtown Knoxville and it’s nice to know that it will still be a landmark for downtown Knoxville. Let’s face it, Gay Street is not downtown and has not been for many, many years.
Bill Austin
Knoxville
Un-’Pleasant’ Surprise
I was very disappointed when I read your article on “Local Election Endorsements” [July 15, 27]. I believe you failed to give one of the candidates the same coverage as you did his two opponents in the South Knox District 9 race. I hope your intentions were to provide fair coverage to all candidates. As it stands, one paragraph each was devoted to two of the candidates while Martin Pleasant received only one sentence.
Martin Pleasant is running on the Green Party ticket for this seat. He has lived for over eight years in South Knoxville. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.
Martin has devoted himself to Knox County through his home, work and community projects. He owns a small farm that provides community garden space near Vestal.
He is an employee of the Knox County Engineering & Public Works Department. He has a wealth of community volunteer experience with Americorps, Ijams Nature Center and is an AYSO soccer coach. He also serves as the president of the Vine Middle School PTSA.
Martin’s five key issues are: to preserve the unique charter of South Knoxville; work to clean up South Knoxville; support sustainable transportation policies; encourage responsible economic development; listen to all Knox County citizens.
I hope that you will be fair and give Martin the coverage that the other candidates received.
Melissa Nance-Richwine
Knoxville
Think Tower-ing Library
I would like to put forth a few comments related to the proposed downtown library construction.
While it sounds like a wonderful project, we already have a fairly nice, functional library downtown; however, I’m not sure if we have a very active public that frequents the downtown library. Instead of building a whole new library and having another vacant building downtown, perhaps only a few million could go to renovate, giving the downtown library a fresher look and more user-friendly feel. Some of the other money that would fund the downtown library could be diverted to other areas in the city and county that do not have easy access to a library. Another use of this money could simply be not raising taxes, particularly the wheel tax.
I do not mind paying taxes when I see my money go for something useful, but to make an extravagant downtown library does not fit my vision of useful, especially when downtown is mostly populated by businesspeople who disappear after 5:15 p.m. The current downtown facilities, coupled with the University of Tennessee’s voluminous Hodges Library, only one mile away, should be able to provide this valuable resource for any downtown, book-hungry consumer.
Another option for the city, if a newer downtown library is considered essential, is to look into the Tennessee Valley Authority’s East Tower. TVA has been looking to either lease or sell sections of the East Tower for several months now and it could provide plenty of space for the library’s books and computers, while filling up only a few floors. The plaza level has ample room for library management and offices on one side and an area for a commercial venture, perhaps a coffeehouse like Starbucks or the Downtown Grind.
The area could be supplemented with Internet-access-ready computers, creating a more contemporary computer cafe, which could appeal to the new downtown residents of the Sterchi Lofts and the Phoenix, as well as downtown businesspeople. Using part of the East Tower as a public library would both allow TVA to reduce its costs, while providing an affordable, well-known, and safe location for the downtown library.
Nikolaus Jordan
Knoxville
At Play with Terrorism
In response to the [July 8] “Assume I am a terrorist” letter, I want to play too. So, assume I am a terrorist. Thank you, Mr. American President, for dropping the years-long focus on catching my friend Osama and diverting all those American resources to Iraq. Thanks for inciting the Islamic world against America; recruitment for my terror cause is way, way up. And thanks for putting your military over here in the desert. Wow, not only are we now in Iraq (that monster Saddam kept us out), but we also now have the home field advantage.
OK, now I’m not a terrorist anymore. I am a concerned American. This Iraq war was planned before 9-11. This Republican administration used false evidence and dishonest, unethical methods to go to war.
Iraq has become a monumental blunder. It will take years to undo the damage done. But only if we halt our downward slide by first stopping the fall; that means cleaning house in Washington, and then changing our direction. That means putting the Democrats back in. If Al Gore had been president, instead of George Bush, we would not be in the fix we are today.
Will Rickenbach
Sevierville
Right 9-11 Track
I am writing to support President G. W. Bush in the upcoming election. While many “nay sayers” have come out against our president, I, as a veteran, support our Commander-in-Chief. He has shown great courage and promise in dealing with 9-11 and the threat against our country.
Ben Frazer
Knoxville
August 5, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 32
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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